NASCAR has made some big changes this season after fans’ feedback. The short track package has increased horsepower, and the controversial playoffs format is gone. And they are also working on improving the Daytona and Talladega races. Yet, there’s one major issue that NASCAR seems too hesitant to change, and that is getting rid of stage racing.
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Fans and purists of the sport argue that once the race goes green, dropping a yellow flag on stage breaks disrupts the natural flow of the race, be it race strategies or tactics. However, there’s a reason why NASCAR can’t do away with stage racing and stage breaks, which was explained by Mark Martin.
“I feel the majority of fans don’t like stage racing but I think that what it is that they don’t like the stage cautions… And the argument about the stage caution is if you don’t throw the yellow but you award the points, then when are they going to play all the commercials. And let’s face it. The networks put a lot of money into this sport and they have to run those commercials sometimes,” Martin said on Kenny conversation.
Remember, Mark Martin was on the committee to bring back the Chase format. He wanted a return of pure points racing across 36 races, but he accepted that a 10-race Chase was the perfect compromise. It’s not that Martin changed his stance; he started to get exposure to how things are being run behind the scenes. And according to him, without the stage cautions, NASCAR will have a tough time luring in the media networks.
“I can’t speak for the fans but I think they should think this through a little bit more and they should understand that if you took that caution out now they’re gonna have to play the commercials and you’re gonna miss some racing. I do think some of the stages are too short on shorter races. Maybe a road course only needs one stage break instead of two or some,” Martin added.
For context, NASCAR has four primary media partners: Fox, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, and TNT. NASCAR has signed a seven-year deal with these networks for a staggering $7.7 billion, which is $1.1 billion per year. These networks generate income through commercials, and stage breaks provide them with a strategic window to air those commercials. And even some of them are innovating to ensure that viewers don’t miss out on racing action.
Side-by-side commercials on Prime Video coverage stood out, and their post-race show has been a major hit among the fans. The 2025 O’Reilly Series championship race at Phoenix was an exception: CW Network aired the entirety of the third and final stage commercial-free. So, the media partners are trying to make the experience better, but expecting stage racing to be eliminated is a big ask.
Then there is the points scenario. Winning a stage gives a driver 10 points, and this is huge for drivers competing in the Chase. Denny Hamlin had a bad finish of 18th at Darlington, but thanks to stage racing, he racked up 16 points to soften the damage on that day. Then there is Kyle Larson and his win at Kansas. He won both stages and the race, scoring a maximum of 76 points.
So stage racing is a vital part of the competition and business model for NASCAR. And perhaps that is why Mark Martin asked fans to be more open about their involvement in the events. There is scope for NASCAR to tweak stage lengths and make the viewing experience more seamless. But given the current media and broadcasting landscape, it is hard to see NASCAR races without stage breaks.